“I’m surprised that you’ve never been told before that you’re lovely and you’re perfect and that somebody wants you.”

Leah raised an eyebrow. “That might be the corniest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing.” George popped a piece of sushi into his mouth and smiled at her.

She shifted a little under his gaze. Leah liked to pretend she was confident, that she didn’t need a man to validate herself but under the surface she was terrified that at any moment he would realise how dull and ugly she was and leave her. Somehow though George seemed to know this, saw through her bravado and loved her all the more for her fragility.

“Everything all right? You’re not eating.”

“I’m fine, I’m just thinking.”

“What are you thinking?”

Leah smiled:

“That you’re lovely and you’re perfect and that somebody wants you.”